Veteran Jamaican gospel recording artiste Dr. Carlene Davis has expressed profound gratitude and humility after securing a nomination in the coveted Best Gospel Entertainer category at the 2026 installment of the International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA).
The 2026 IRAWMA ceremony is scheduled to take place on May 17 at the Lauderdale Performing Arts Center in South Florida, bringing together top talent from across the global reggae and world music landscape for a night of celebration and recognition. Davis joins six other talented nominees in the category: DJ Nicholas, Kevin Downswell, Papa San, Judith Gayle, Prince Saj, and Jason Mighty, all of whom have made significant contributions to gospel music within the reggae genre.
In a reflective statement following the nomination announcement, Davis shared that while industry nods are never a given expectation, she deeply values the recognition from IRAWMA organizers, particularly for the space they reserve to center gospel messaging in an international awards platform. “Nominations are a part of life, something that happens based on how people see things and not necessarily what you expect. I do appreciate the nomination, especially from where the message of the Gospel is recognised and is so necessary in our society. So much so that the organisers of IRAWMA would give the Gospel of Jesus Christ a category,” Davis explained.
For the long-serving gospel minister, the nomination carries far deeper meaning than just industry acclaim: she frames it as a tangible reminder of enduring hope, aligned with her faith. “It means ‘as long as there is life there is hope’, according to how the Holy Spirit guides us through all truth—including myself—who I seek to give me guidance in all that I do and say,” she said.
Davis is no stranger to recognition from IRAWMA, with a history of award wins dating back to the 1980s, when the organization was known as Martin’s International Reggae Music Awards. Over the decades, she has taken home honors including Best Female Vocalist, Best Music Video, Best Gospel Oriented Entertainer, and 1992’s Best Gospel Album. Most recently, she claimed the IRAWMA Best Gospel Album title in 2015 for her project *Dripping Blood*.
Even with her extensive trophy case, Davis emphasizes that any future win would not be a personal victory, but a win for the global Christian ministry she has built over decades. “I am not a competitive person by nature. But, by being nominated in this international event that gives recognition to persons in the music industry on a global level, I am already a winner being a part of the Kingdom of God and if Carlene Davis wins, it is a victory for the Kingdom and for that I say to God be the glory,” she shared.
Davis remains active in ministry and music production, with a packed schedule of engagements across North America and the Caribbean in recent months. She has ministered to congregations and audiences across Jamaica, multiple Caribbean nations including Barbados, St Lucia, Dominica, and Guyana, as well as cities across the United States. Her latest creative work includes the co-produced project *Songs of Zion* and the single *Holy Forever*, released under the Glory Music label in partnership with VPal Music. Another of her recent singles, *No Regrets*, earned the 2025 Outstanding Reggae Recording honor at The Marlin’s Awards in the Bahamas.
The celebrated artiste has also earned high-profile non-music recognition in 2026 already: in February, she received the Marcus Garvey Iconic Award from the Commission of the City of Miramar, Florida. Most recently, she delivered a ministry set on the Love & Harmony Cruise on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, continuing her streak of active outreach through her music.